Windows 7 or 8 for gaming?

Cbarker

Active member
Hi all,

Have tried a search but as you can imagine 'Windows' is a fairly common term in the forum!

Would people recommend a new build with windows 7 or windows 8 for a desktop gaming pc?

Everything I've seen of windows 8 is that it's focused on touchscreen and looks a lot like the Xboxlive dashboard or the windows phone step (boxs, pins, apps etc rather than desktop)

Will it be a drain on things like vista was or is it preferable to windows 7?

I've seen a thread on price but not on what people would suggest, or does it not matter?

Any help would be appreciated!
 

keynes

Multiverse Poster
I'd suggest getting Windows 7, you will still have the option to upgrade to Windows 8 for £14.99 until January 31st 2013.
 

vanthus

Member Resting in Peace
Personally I would go for Windows7,having said that Windows8 doesn't seem as bad as forecast by most sources,though there are still some problems with drivers.
 
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terhil

Active member
I always wait until atleast 6 months after a new windows release mainly due to issue's with software/drivers not working. It takes a few months for some software firms to update software/drivers for the new Windows OS.
 

baron75mk2

Banned
I would say windows 7 for a desktop pc , win 8 is all about gimmiky touch screen panels , even the simplest of desktop functions takes 3 times longer to do on win 8 (only a personal opinion mind you) :)
 
Im using Windows 8 on a fairly old laptop (while im saving up for a custom built system, almost there!). There have been no problems with drivers. I dont have a touchscreen. I think it is just personal preference. I actually prefer using Windows 8 than Windows 7. Takes less time to boot up. Even on my system im using now, it boots up within about 40seconds. Once you also know the short cuts for Windows 8, things become a right doddle.

And as for drivers, it seems to use the Windows 7 drivers.
 
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Wozza63

Biblical Poster
benchmarks have shown windows 8 being marginally better than windows 7 in gaming, this is usually only a couple of frames per second extra
 

SmokeDarKnight

Author Level
I've noticed much more stable frame rates when using Windows 8 and had no driver issues except with the brightness but AMD have fixed that with the latest drivers.
 
I was debating the same question in my head over the past 2 days after purchase, I ordered an Optimus with Windows 8 and I kept making amendments back and forth between Windows 8 and 7, and I eventually settled on 8. Very difficult decision since there are people who like 8 and hate 8, so as a result I have a total of 9 amendments for the OS, hope that doesn't cause any problems with my order!
 

stebro297

Bronze Level Poster
Once you know the shortcuts it's more or less W7 like anyway. You can use/not use the new UI as much as you want. It's worth pointing out the new UI does actually work better for a few things, however i find myself in "desktop mode" probably 90% of the time.

Windows +x is one of the important ones, but juset try the windows button with all the letters and you'll see what i mean :)
 

SmokeDarKnight

Author Level
Has anyone else tried the mouse pad short cuts for windows 8, make it feel more like you have a form of touch screen.

I've listed them here incase you haven't tried them there cool but annoying if you do them by accident.

Mouse Pad Tricks
 
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